HOWARD B. EISENGERG SERVICE AWARD
Rebeca M. López, Arts ’04, Law ’12
Greenfield, Wis.
In grade school, Rebeca López dreamed of being a Mexican folkloric dancer, representing her heritage and culture through the arts. While her path instead led to law school, she proudly represents her diverse heritage and her community as a leader throughout the state of Wisconsin, in her work both as an employment-law attorney and in public service.
As a partner with the law firm of Godfrey & Kahn S.C., in Milwaukee, Rebeca works with businesses, in addition to supporting future generations of lawyers and providing pro bono services to legal clinic clients and nonprofit organizations. One of her main goals is to serve her clients by allowing them to thrive while providing them with support and guidance during challenging times in their lives and operations.
Legal education provided Rebeca a foundation to realize her true passion – service to others. Both inside and outside of the office, Rebeca is motivated by the Jesuit model of service: treating others with love, learning from others, and sharing the optimism and promise of faith. She credits service learning and other volunteer opportunities in which she participated at Marquette with motivating her to be a continuous learner and teaching her the reciprocal value of prioritizing service to others in our community.
Since 2019, Rebeca has served on Governor Tony Evers’s Judicial Selection Advisory Committee. As a committee member, Rebeca joins attorneys from across Wisconsin in the vital work of interviewing and recommending attorneys for appointment to Wisconsin’s courts.
Making service a priority in her life fulfills Rebeca, giving her the strength and perspective to continue serving her community and positively advocating for others.
What is the Marquette class you remember most? Why?
My most memorable class was Law and Social Change. I learned about the power of the law to change lives both for the better and for the worst. I learned about perseverance of attorneys who were not deterred when advocating through litigation for social change and about the role of organizations in lobbying decision-makers in their legislative process.
Tell us your favorite place on campus to study, socialize and relax with friends.
The time I spent together with friends at Marquette — whether it was near the Eckstein Hall second-floor tables, in group study rooms, or on the lawn around campus — was filled with laughter. These are some of my happiest memories.
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